Chain-link



(No Model.)

J. W. GARLAND.

CHAIN LINK.

No. 426,177. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

rsns co., puma-mun WASHINGTU UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. GARLAND, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAIN-LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 426,177, dated April 22, 1890.

Application filed January 18, 1890. Serial No. 337,340. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN XV. GARLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chain-Links; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in a new article of manufacture-the improved chain linkhereinafter to be described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a chain of several links formed after the manner of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a similar chain, one link being shown in outline.

Throughout the drawings like referencedetters refer to like parts.

In order that a chain should possess the greatest strength with the least possible weight, be free from tendencies to kink up, and run smoothly over pulleywvlieels through guides and over obstructions of any kind without catching, it is necessary that the material of the link should be so disposed that it shall be subjected as nearly as possible to equal strains at all points, the space between the two sides of the link should be at all points a little greater than the thickness of the material forming the next link in the chain, and the width and thickness of each link at all points in its length should be as nearly as possible uniform, so that there may be no projections to catch upon obstructions. I attain these objects by forming each link of my chain out of a single piece of metal A A A of uniform cross'sectionsuch as wire-or a metal strip of any suitable shape other than circular and of proper dimensions. One end portion a of the piece is twisted around the central portion B of said piece. The other end portion a of the piece is twisted around the first end portion at a point 1) near the point where it surrounds the central portion B. The piece of metal A is bent through an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees at the points D and F and through. an angle of ninety degrees at Z) to enable this twisting of the ends, the one upon the center and the other upon. the

first to be done. The twisted portions are closed up tightly, so as to keep the thickness of the link down and to form as slight projections as possible. The result is a link in which each portion of the wire, strip, or metal piece A is subjected to nearly the same strain. Thelink is of nearly uniform breadth throughout. At the bight of the link atD and F the bend of the metal is not so sharp as to materially weaken it. The sides at cl of each link are nearly parallel-011 e to another, and at every point the space between them is greater than the thickness of the material which forms the bight D of the next link, and danger of kinkin g is thereby avoided. The thickness of the link at different points is preserved as nearly as possible uniform, the twisted portions (L and a being kept apart and not superimposed one upon the other.

The advantages of my invention are that a chain made of these links will run smoothly over any objectsuch as a windlass-and bear evenly upon it. The various turns of the chain about the Windlass will lie snugly together. It has the greatest possible strength for a given weight of material, and all danger of kinking and getting jammed in a guideway-such as a hawse-hole=-are reduced to the minimum possible with chains of this general character.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

As an improved article of manufacture, a chain-link formed of a single piece of metal of uniform cross-section, one end portion of the piece being formed into a loop and the free end twisted around its central portion only, and the other end portion of the piece formed into a loop and the free end twisted about the first end portion near the point where it is bent to form the cross-bar which surrounds the central portion, but said second end portion not engaging said central portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

7 JOHN W. GARLAND. Witnesses:

ROBERT ATWELL, ROBERT GARLAND. 

